119-sres401

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 401 Introduced in Senate

    (IS) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
S. RES. 401

 Supporting the designation of September 19, 2025, as ``National 
 Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day'', recognizing tens of 
 thousands of families in the United States that have endured a 
 stillbirth, and seizing the opportunity to keep other families from 
 experiencing the same tragedy.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 September 18 (legislative day, September 16), 2025

 Mr. Merkley (for himself, Mr. Booker, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. 
Daines, Mr. Heinrich, Mr. King, and Mr. Wyden) submitted the following 
 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, 
 Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

 RESOLUTION

 Supporting the designation of September 19, 2025, as ``National 
 Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day'', recognizing tens of 
 thousands of families in the United States that have endured a 
 stillbirth, and seizing the opportunity to keep other families from 
 experiencing the same tragedy.

Whereas more than 21,000 pregnancies in the United States end in stillbirth each 
 year, and the lack of access to maternal health care services has 
 exacerbated the crisis;
Whereas racial disparities persist in birth outcomes, with Black, American 
 Indian and Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, 
 and Hispanic families at the greatest risk of losing a baby to 
 stillbirth;
Whereas, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the annual 
 number of stillbirths far exceeds the number of deaths from the top 5 
 leading causes of death among children under 15 years of age combined, 
 including unintentional injuries, congenital anomalies, preterm birth, 
 homicide, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome;
Whereas stillbirths are devastating and have a profound and lifelong impact on 
 the families who endure them;
Whereas losing a baby to stillbirth is linked to an increased risk of maternal 
 morbidity and mortality;
Whereas, with increased awareness and better data collection, the United States 
 will be able to better understand why stillbirths in the United States 
 are happening at an alarming rate and identify what can be done to 
 combat this crisis;
Whereas proven stillbirth prevention efforts have the power to save thousands of 
 babies every year, and innovations in stillbirth prevention could save 
 thousands of additional families nationwide every year from the 
 heartache of losing a baby;
Whereas recognizing ``National Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day'' is an 
 opportunity to increase awareness, support evidence-based prevention 
 efforts, promote research, encourage improved data collection and 
 greater understanding, and provide support to those who have experienced 
 a stillbirth; and
Whereas ``National Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day''--

    (1) celebrates the passage of the Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth 
Prevention Act of 2024 (Public Law 118-69; 138 Stat. 1485), which opens up 
more Federal resources for stillbirth prevention activities and research; 
and

    (2) calls on the President and all other Federal officials to use their 
authority to take action to help reduce stillbirths and to ensure every 
expectant family is educated on how to reduce the risk of losing a baby to 
stillbirth: Now, therefore, be it

 Resolved, That the Senate--

    (1) supports the goals and ideals of ``National Stillbirth 
 Prevention and Awareness Day'';

    (2) understands the importance of advancing evidence-based 
 prevention efforts; and

    (3) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
 calling upon the people of the United States to observe 
 ``National Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day'' with 
 appropriate prevention and awareness programs and activities.
 <all>